An unknown American serial killer terrorized the District of Columbia in 1971-1972. This killer targeted young black girls walking alone in the suburbs. All 6 girls were between the ages of 10-18 and had been found dumped off the highway in a grassy patch. Carol Spinks, Darlenia Johnson, Brenda Crockett, Nenomoshia Yates, Brenda Woodard, Diane Williams, and possibly Teara Bryant all were victims of the Freeway Phantom. Almost all of them were raped and strangled. The killer forced one of the victims to call home and made another victim write a taunting note to the police. Not all law enforcement agencies agree on the number of victims as well; there are possibly 6-7 victims of the Freeway Phantom. 50 years later, and no suspects have been arrested, though some were investigated. The evidence in the case was destroyed, and it seems unlikely that the brutal murders of these young girls will ever be solved. 

Sources

Brown, F. A., Jr. (1987, February 05). GROUP comforts Those united by tragedy. Retrieved from https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/local/1987/02/05/group-comforts-those-united-by-tragedy/808b9a27-ca4f-4477-a6f0-ef08b2b91f54/

Fountain, J. W. (1997, September 20). KILLINGS unsolved 25 years later. Retrieved from https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/local/1997/09/20/killings-unsolved-25-years-later/4c921bb7-5d9d-4752-99f2-0bd00d6ca0df/

"Freeway Phantom" homicide victims. (1972, September 30). Retrieved from https://mpdc.dc.gov/publication/%E2%80%9Cfreeway-phantom%E2%80%9D-homicide-victims

Leshan, B. (2019, November 08). The unsolved murders of 6 d.c. girls from the '70S still haunt the community. Retrieved from https://www.wusa9.com/article/features/producers-picks/freeway-phantom-murders-cold-case-new-book/65-cf2dfc41-86e6-4e99-851e-922d4d7e7169

Morgan, T. (1980, August 03). A common bond. Retrieved from https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/local/1980/08/03/a-common-bond/9a005910-5376-44e1-b95b-345cc301529f/

Nodjimbadem, K. (2020, May 29). The long, Painful history of police brutality in the U.S. Retrieved from https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/long-painful-history-police-brutality-in-the-us-180964098/

Pardoe, B. L., & Hester, V. (2019). Tantamount: The Pursuit Of The Freeway Phantom Serial Killer. Denver, CO: WildBlue Press.

Testin, M. (Director). (2019, November 25). The Freeway Phantom [Video file]. Retrieved from People Magazine Investigates-Discovery +

Thompson, C. (2018, May 22). Six black girls were brutally murdered in the early '70S. Why was this case NEVER SOLVED? Retrieved from https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/magazine/six-black-girls-were-brutally-murdered-in-the-early-70s-why-was-this-case-never-solved/2018/05/21/c74d26ec-4e22-11e8-af46-b1d6dc0d9bfe_story.html

Truesdell, J. (2019, November 25). Unsolved case of 'freeway Phantom' Haunts families decades After Slain girls were found in D.C. Area. Retrieved from https://people.com/crime/freeway-phantom-unsolved-case-washington-dc-murders-haunts-families/

Two ex-cops from Washington held for 'Freeway Phantom' murder of girl. (1974, April 01). Retrieved from https://www.newspapers.com/image/?clipping_id=22625912&fcfToken=eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJmcmVlLXZpZXctaWQiOjI4MjU5MDI3LCJpYXQiOjE2MTc5MTQxMzYsImV4cCI6MTYxODAwMDUzNn0.i_pbGL38tnxeIBHUOVNwq1OGp3zUpvpIDZPFWwh0ngM

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